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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Raspberry Seltzer

Could it be...that spring...may have in fact...sprung?

What a lovely weekend it was. Heck, I even went shopping down on Newbury Street this past Saturday in nothing but a sweatshirt and light scarf! The sunshine and light breeze felt amazing, and the sound of birds chirping in the morning really makes my cat go BONKERS.

I'm not saying that we can pack up our coats and call it quits for winter. There has been blistering winds in Boston this week...not quite flip flop weather.

That doesn't mean that we can't get EXCITED about the prospect of spring. Baseball is back, the summer beers are flooding the liquor stores, and it's light out well after 7 pm!

This Raspberry Selter is sweet and refreshing. It is the perfect beverage for a sunny, breezy afternoon on the porch. If you want to put a splash of vodka in a glass of this, I wouldn't stop you. Heck, I would encourage it.

I should be honest and tell you that I am being a copy cat with this beverage. For any of my Boston friends that have been to Flour Bakery, you may know that they offer a very similar beverage. When paired with one of their delicious sandwiches or salads, it makes for a satisfying afternoon. They just opened a new location about 2 minutes from my office. My life is all the better because of it.

A simple syrup is made with water, sugar, and pint of fresh raspberries. Raspberries are soft and sweet, with just the right amount of tart.

All you do is simmer everything together in a small saucepan on the stovetop for about 30 minutes.

Be sure you are stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar and prevent the syrup from burning.

Once the syrup has thickened a bit, remove it from the heat to cool completely. This will thicken the syrup even further, which will make your beverage extra special and extra sweet (just like us!). Strain mixture of seeds and remaining raspberry flesh into a mason jar.

To make this simple yet elegant beverage, fill a glass with ice cubes. Fill halfway with chilled seltzer water, then add lots of the simple syrup. Finish filling the glass with more seltzer and stir to combine.

If seltzer water and bubbles aren't your fancy, perhaps you want to use this syrup to make a raspberry lemonade (I know, now I'm being crazy).

To make the syrup, combine the raspberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not let the mixture boil too rapidly. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely. Once cooled, strain into a small mason jar.

Fill glasses with lots of ice and pour in seltzer water halfway up the glass. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of syrup to each glass and fill to the top with more seltzer. Stir to combine. Garnish with fresh lime wedges.

Store leftover syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.